2.3L ('02-'11) Takes forever to fuel

[Sdully88]

2008 Ranger Supercab 2.3 5 speed 2wd truck sat for almost 2 years as I had several things to address on it and a shoulder surgery kept me from it for the better part of a year. Replaced valve cover gasket, fixed broken bolt in cover that the pcv valve mounts in, replaced water pump, thermostat, serpentine belt, new plugs, and wires. Before starting, used an electric fuel pump to drain the old gas from the fuel tank. Shoved a hose in thru the filler neck to pump it out. Put fresh gas in with a gas can and test drive it, and it runs great, just like always, with no check engine light. I've fueled the truck several different times at different gas stations and the nozzle clicks off before you can even set it on the lowest notch. I've owned the truck since 2018 and I always been able to gas it up full blast in a few minutes with no issue. Set the nozzle on high flow and let it go or hold it wide open, either way it'd take gas as fast as you could send it. Now it takes 10-15 to fill up. No collapsing or kinks in filler neck or vent hose. Vent hose has no blockage. Wtf could be the issue? Is there a flap on the top of the tank for rollover protection that could have got messed up when we pulled the hose out after pumping out the old gas? Scanned to check for any inactive codes and the only thing there was an ABS code, nothing related to the evap system. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Curious Hound]

Really sounds like some kind of blockage in the filler pipe. This may help you understand what’s happening so you can figure out what’s interrupting the process.

 

[Sdully88]

Really sounds like some kind of blockage in the filler pipe. This may help you understand what’s happening so you can figure out what’s interrupting the process.

First off, thanks for the reply!
That's what my common sense tells me, not that that's worth much. I'm thinking there's a rollover valve that the flapper might have gotten lodged pulling the hose out when I drained the fuel. The vent hose is clear. I did blow air thru the filler tube too but air will flow better than liquid so time to drop the tank I guess.

 

[SenorNoob]

You might find it easier to lift the bed. Most do. No need to remove it. Just take the driver's side bolts out and loosen the passenger side. It will tilt enough to get to the top of the tank.

 

[Sdully88]

As much as I'd love to do that, the bed cross members are pretty rusty even though the bed floor is solid. Afraid if I mess with the bed it'll make things worse. Midwest salt, gotta love it. I have a lift and under lift transmission jack in my shop so I'll just drop the tank. Any chance it could be the charcoal canister even though there's no active or inactive codes?

 

[Curious Hound]

I have a lift and under lift transmission jack in my shop so I'll just drop the tank.

Well, if you have all that luxury, dropping the tank is a piece of cake.

I don't see any way that the charcoal canister, purge valve, etc. Could cause this problem. Fuel should move freely down the filler hose and displaced air/vapors should freely move out the vent hose.

 

[Sdully88]

Thanks for everyone's input. Might be a week or two before I get around to dropping it but I'll update as to what I find. I saw a similar thread on Reddit and it seems everyone's answer is all the older vehicles do it because the new pumps pump faster, just pull the nozzle out a little, turn it a little, turn it upside down, etc...bullcrap this truck never had any issue taking fuel from any pump. I'm not going to jack around to find a sweet spot that works. That's just me though lol

 

[SenorNoob]

Curious Hound is right. It's gotta be the neck somehow. The little line that runs up to the charcoal isn't large enough to move that much air IMO. (At least not without significant pressure.)